Heroism seems to be a significant aspect of our society. This is due in part to each individual's overwhelming desire to seek an identity for themselves. This creates the need for an idol of sorts. This is a person whom society can mirror themselves after in hopes of being socially accepted. Unfortunately, not all of these role models uphold fundamental morals and values. Just because they are socially accepted doesn't imply that they are morally inclined. This sort of idolization of so-called heroes makes it easy to decipher what the disposition of a society at that point in time may be. Heroes are a welcomed sight in a society of people who continually struggle to be someone other than who they are. Heroes provide a basis of comparison for those without their own true identity. Teenagers, for example, are still forming their own identities and opinions about the world and can be easily influenced by the latest fads. As the rate of plastic-surgery operations increases among young women, this could easily be attributed to the rising popularity of perhaps, Brittany Spears or another of the socially accepted measures of perfection for young women. It seems apparent that society thrives off of these heroes and as Bertolt Brecht wrote; "Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes.".
Throughout the ages, the heroes of diverse societies have varied as greatly as the people themselves. Considering the many different personalities in a society, it is needless to say that there are heroes to meet each of their desires. It goes without saying, that not all of these heroes have the societies best interests at heart and merely act upon their own feelings. Adolf Hitler, for example, was a huge hero to the weak and defeated post WWI Germans. These identity-seeking Germans adopted Hitler's morals and values for their own. We see a similar, but far less dramatic, situation today. The outcasts and depressed of today's youth are reaching out to those whom they feel will accept them.
